I can see three bays of open structure, effectively created by the posts. They outlook to a triangular yard without any dimension or perspective because of it's size. To address this the area needs to have defined function or form to improve it's overall look. With a tight budget, spend the money on practical high impact as you know, I suggest building two mobile units that consist of a treated pine box frame to he lower part with vertical frame on the back, to clad this I would use stained timber battens or merbau so the bottom box component will be either a box storage seat or a planter box. My preference is to say a seat. The frame on the back would extend two thirds the height of the posts, so it still retains a top window for light and frames the structure. Given these frames would be on lockable castor wheels, they could be in place to close in each end of the bays, leaving he centre open as a doorway to the garden. They could be moved when entertaining back to back to create a division, or at each end or an L shape at one end to create a lounge, making the spae versatile all year round dependent on weather. They also would not restrict installing outdoor OCD blinds if required. Now for the fun part. In one of these mobile units, the back screen should have a window sized open cutout, that will allow a view out to the garden beyond, I'm thinking the left hand side, to play on perspective, like looking through a kaleidoscope. On the lawn I would dump a few square meters of topsoil, and mound a Esther large hill at this end, planting an established tree, like a japanese maple with perhaps round edged garden beds to the perimeter, this will mask the size of the block. Use silver birches along the fence line, they grow large wNd allow lots of light through, the white trunks are beautiful features when base lit. Having a tree on a hill raises it to viewing point, and makes you Wang to walk out to a natural environment. Ground covers are good alternatives to a lawn, mosses and crushed granite paths that curve from start to end, all the wAy using colour and layering of height and foliage. Add a ceiling fan to the roof, outdoor furniture and close in the ends of the space, the bbq end i would say stud frame a solid wall here to screen the neighbours and provide an enclosed cook station, clad the frame with exterior blue boars or FC sheet, then paint it black and to finish it i suggest getting hold of some firewood, cutting the logs into 40-50mm rounds like tiles and adhering them to this board, it will create a stunning feature and cast glorious light over the wall. Its natural so will age well, withstand the elements and be a constant talking point, all for the cost of some basic framing and some firewood. Without a big budget you need some creativity to pull off a beautiful space that really impresses. The other end with a framed section of concrete rio, this is the perfect climbing frame for espalier or a fruit vine etc. Cushions to brighten up the mobile seats and potter plants in groupings along the house line. These mobile screens could also hang some small suspended pots for herbs for he BBQ end,

Understand that "Corian" is only one particular brand of acrylic benchtop, like as with reconstituted stone and laminate material, people often refer to it by the name of the most popular brand name, but their are always different levels and tiers of quality across an array of different companies that manufacture this type of bench top material. We regularly utilise and specific acrylic bench top material on our projects such as below. It's the most seamless and malleable bench top material from a design point of view than any of the other options available. Most of our higher end projects choose to go with it and for good reason, and we've never had an issue with it. Any defects can be relatively easily repaired, the success of which is not so much in regards to the quality of the material, but rather the contractors who work with and install it. So if anyone's had issues it can typically be pegged back to a workmanship or fitting issue, or potentially on a rare occasion if there's an actual defect with the material/product it should be replaced properly/completely rather than just patched up. www.pauldistefanodesign.com

I have one of those Monika and I would venture to say that you wouldn't be able to cut it flat because with everything around everywhere having the waved top it would look really odd I think, and I doubt whether you would be able to paint it at least until the development is well over or you could find the developers all over you, along with residents who like yourselves have signed to agree to the covenants. A lot of people enter into these developments because there is a better chance of people looking after their properties however I will say that I am the only owner occupied in my part of the street, and I am forever weeding everyone else's garden, picking up the rubbish blown from the sea breeze on new builders not looking after their rubbish and the renters chucking empty beer bottles where they have sat on the steps drinking and throw the bottles into the garden and I actually water the rental alongside me as our gardens join, as yours probably does, and they refuse to water it. I want my place to look nice and if left to these renters it would look like homeless shelters. I think the tall pots and something like the black bamboo could look really good :)

yep, I can see this is a tricky one then and appreciate you've already worked through negotiating some of these constraints - it's always a case of more than meets the eye with these projects..... But there's still something bugging me about this one conceptually. I think it's the fact considering the full scope in that you're doing a reasonable amount (which will cost a fair bit I imagine) but it's essentially replacing and if not losing some property amenity in the process (garage gone). When you have an opportunity like this I always dig deep to find the creative opportunity to really maximise the investment. It's a relatively smallish home, but on these ones the idea is not to tighten them up further, but to open them up and increase the feeling of space more than what they are...the key is in the planning. I suppose it's the stuff that we don't want to be noticing that I'm picking upon such as the idea of a main bathroom opposite double doors to the formal living is not ideal. oklouise's option is better but it's still kind of visible from the entry.... It's like you've got the various "spaces" boxes ticked with the rooms etc but the flow/transition is a little clunky. Walking through a kitchen, then the laundry to finally get to the loo is not an ideal set-up. Maybe it's the central passage that's closing it in an may not even need to be there so the formal living is open...I don't know and it's too involved/complex to resolve in a post/on a forum as ultimately this stuff comes back to the project brief requirements. Advice I have is like always trust your instinct and if it's not sitting right for you in certain areas then it's not resolved yet.....this may need a bit of unpicking and revisiting to get the best outcome....but just my professional opinion ;) best of luck with it PD